Saturday, December 30, 2017

Good morning! I hope that you have had a great week. I have been a slug, catching up on a little work, reading, staying in my pi's all day and not leaving the house unless it is absolutely necessary. Luckily I only had to leave once. I will have to go out today because we are supposed to have very cold weather next week and snow, which will shut my town down for days if we get more than an inch.

I am not a big meat eater my husband is, currently we are debating if we have pasta or a meat dish for New Years Eve dinner. so far I am loosing the discussion. If you are trying to decide which meat to serve for your dinner here are 54 of the Best Steak Recipes from Bon Appetit.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Good morning! I don't know about you but Christmas came and went so fast and was such a world wind I am a little worn out. I am taking it easy this week and getting ready for the new year.

I know a lot of people are out taking advantage of the after Christmas sales, I have been perusing them online from the comfort of my house.

As I mentioned yesterday, I love tartan in my house, on my person, to give as gifts, etc. Yesterday I shared some beautiful pieces from Williams Sonoma. Today I found a few J Crew pieces that are on sale at Nordstrom! The perfect plaid shirt is one of my favorites, as is the Blackwatch short robe.

Oddly some of the same pieces shown above are not on sale at J Crew.

I hope you are staying warm, it is 23 here today so be safe if you are venturing out!

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.And mama in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.Away to the window I flew like a flash,Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snowGave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roofThe prancing and pawing of each little hoof.As I drew in my head, and was turning around,Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.He had a broad face and a little round belly,That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.And laying his finger aside of his nose,And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Legend has it that if you sit under a pine tree on Christmas Eve you can hear the angels sing. I will be sitting under my tree this evening hoping to hear the angels sing. What will you be doing?

Good morning and a happy Christmas Eve to you. I hope that you have been enjoying your Christmas weekend with friends and family. I am with my family and it has been so much fun to see Christmas through the eyes of the kids, everything is new, exciting, and magical.

We have a lot planned for today, long walks, a little shopping, football, dinner, mass with a live nativity and then off to bed so that we can await the arrival of Santa. If your little ones like to follow along with Santa and his deliveries make sure to check out the Santa Tracker on the NORAD webpage. We love to follow along and see Santa's progress around the world.

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Good morning! The days are winding down to Christmas and as I keep saying to myself and on this blog I want to slow down and enjoy it. For me Christmas is not about the gifts, its about traditions, family, friends, savoring the spirit of the season, the moments and the memories.

One of my fondest memories is waiting for the JCPenny and Sears catalogs to arrive each year. My siblings and I would pour over the pages making our lists for Santa. In our little world those catalogs were like the Neiman Marcus fantasy catalog, there were so many interesting and exotic things, cars for kids, life sized playhouses, canopy beds(still my dream bed), beautiful princess dresses with matching tiaras and so much more. I smile just thinking about those dog eared pages.

My mother loves Christmas and she always decorates two trees downstairs, one in the living room which is more formal and one in the family room that is filled with all of the ornaments that my siblings and I have made in our lifetime. You know the ones as I am sure that you have a few as well; the ones made from dough and painted garish colors, the ones made with buttons and ribbon from my grandmothers button box, the funny ones we gave to her each year with little characters and our names written one which went from the four of us, to the addition of dogs and grandkids. I never tire of looking at those ornaments and when I do I can see in my minds eye exactly where we were when we made them.

My grandmother came for a family of 14 children and she had 10 herself, in those days people did all of their own baking and at Christmas they upped their game as they say. I savor the memory of my grandmothers cookie closet, filled from floor to ceiling with cookie tins. Each evening for weeks my grandmother made cookies at night and on the weekends; there were spritz cookies, thumbprint cookies with jelly in the center rolled in nuts, chocolate salami, nut horns, chocolate crinkles and so much more. There was never less than 20 different kinds of cookies and then there were the cinnamon rolls, prune rolls, poppy seed rolls and homemade bread. When were were in town I would happily assume my place right next to her perched on a chair with my siblings and we would roll the dough, flour the board and of course be the official taste testers.

In my family my grandparents house was the hub of all holiday activity, every one of her 10 children, their husbands and the kids came over on Christmas Eve before midnight mass, then we all walked the few block, typically in the snow to the church. We are Catholic and our family church is called St. Hedwig, I was baptized there, my sister was married there, and my grandparents were berried there. The church was always beautiful but its true beauty shown on Christmas when it was lit by candle light and decorated with swags of fresh greens, lots of real trees with lights and on the left side of the alter a life sized European creche, with donkeys, cows, the 3 wise men, of course Mary, Joseph and the most beautiful baby Jesus. I would stand there in awe after mass gazing at this magnificent sight and I wished and prayed that I could take home one of the little sheep. I can hear as I type this the melodious voice of the cantor who sang there for most of my life, I am sure that if he had not sung at our church he could have been a professional opera singer his voice was that beautiful.

As for traditions we have a few that we do not deviate from. We always have a gathering on Christmas Eve, and of course we eats lots and lots of scrumptious food. We have a dinner for family and friends and we open the presents from our God parents and God children as well as one other gift, typically it is pajamas. We all sit around the two fireplaces, do puzzles, play dominos or we just sit and talk and listen to my relatives tell stories.

On Christmas morning we always follow the trail of candy from the fireplace in the living room to the family room where all of the kids presents are. Many years if there is snow there are also footprints left by Santa. After opening presents my mom makes cinnamon rolls and other tasty morsels and we all sit around in our pj's, watch Christmas movies, eat, play games and then eat again.

Although I love each and every tradition that we have my absolute favorite is driving to see the Christmas lights with my mom. This tradition started with my grandfather, he would take us before Midnight mass and we would marvel at the rainbow of colors decorating the neighborhood. Since he passed my mom took over and now every year we get our steaming cups of cocoa and we drive to see the lights while laughing and playing Christmas carols. When I am visiting it is actually something that we do most every night, we drive along Lake Michigan and thru the city to our favorite neighborhoods and we reminisce and tell one another funny stories and recount memories of times past.

Do you have any favorite memories or traditions that you keep each year? If so, please share them, I would love to hear them.

If you are looking for a quick and easy dessert recipe with 5 ingredients than pop over to my other blog Once Upon a Chocolate and check out this No Bake Chocolate Peppermint Tart.

Thursday, December 21, 2017

The baking is finished, the gifts are wrapped and mailed and there is nothing left to do but sit back and enjoy. For the next few days I am on holiday so that I can enjoy the "most wonderful time of the year."

I have been savoring cups of hot chocolate piled high with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. Watching "Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas and of course The Polar Express. Reading The Christmas Carol, a chapter each night before bed. I made my first ever batch of mince pies for my dad. The Christmas lights and decorations in my neighborhood. Eating all of my favorite things that I only make once a year. Spending time with friends before we all head off for the holidays. Making marshmallows. Mulled wine.

I could go on and on but these are just a few of "the little things" I am enjoying this week. Are you taking time this week to rest, relax and enjoy? What are some of the the little things that you have done, observed and enjoyed this week.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Good morning! Christmas is just a week away, are you ready? I spent most of the weekend baking so that I can mail all of my "food gifts" today. It's my favorite part of the holiday as I mentioned the other day.

Because I had no time to take photos of anything new that I made I thought I would share a peak of Christmas around my house instead. This little tree above is in my keeping room, between my kitchen and the family room.

I have had it for many years and I decorate it the same every year with birds (both wooden and some made with feathers), pine cones and acorns, and small signs with whimsical sayings about birds. I set it in a snowman bucket and this year I wrapped it in a wool blanket to simulate a scarf.

I have another tree that is a new addition this year, I put it in a vintage French wicker basket with wheels and placed it on the wall between the keeping room and the family room. The family room to the right has a large reindeer candelabra and hand blown glass balls in red, free, and amber in the bowl to the left of it.

It has a woodland theme with mice, deer, antlers, owls, snow shoes, wool mittens and boots, along with garland made from pine cones and cinnamon sticks.

My tree is on the wall of the double sided fireplace. This year I decorated antlers, garland and these fabulous coffee sack stockings that my mom made when she was here visiting. I love the rustic texture of them.

On the fireplace is a garland with colored lights, which my husband requested and antlers to hold the stockings. Above the fireplace is a chalkboard that I drew a rudimentary tree on for my little red bird to perch on.

In the corner next to the fireplace is a stack of antique fishing creel's that I placed an old crate with three little trees accented with little red birds.

I am partial to little red cardinals because someone once told me that they represent a loved one who has passed and you see them when you miss them or need them most. They also show up at times of celebrations and since Christmas is the greatest celebration of the year, I wanted all of my loved ones represented in my home at this most holy and sacred time.

I hope that this week, you find the time to savor all that you love about the holiday. I will be doing just that.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Good morning! Happy Friday, can you believe that we are 10 days away from Christmas? I cannot believe how fast the season has flown by, I just want to stop the clock and savor every minute.

I hope you enjoyed Michele's post yesterday on cheese/charcuterie boards. I think they make a great gift as well as an easy appetizer. We always have a cheese/meat board out on Christmas eve and Christmas afternoon between breakfast and before dinner.

Today is day 5 of my "Easy Homemade Christmas gifts" and I thought I would share my favorite Cranberry Apple Chutney. It is perfect for the upcoming holiday because it is so versatile seriously it tastes great on almost anything). It is sweet, savory and spicy at same time.

Since I made this 2 weeks ago my husband and I have eaten this with pork chops, black forest ham and cheese sandwiches, on home made biscuits and with a cheese board. It is also delicious over a warmed brie cheese wheel or with Cambazola cheese as well.

In a large saucepan combine all of the ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon, then place the pan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Once mixture boils turn down the heat a little to let the mixture cook on at a fast simmer for about 45 minutes or until the chutney has thickened and the fruit is soft.
Spoon into your jars and refrigerate. NOTE: I left mine jars uncovered until they were cooled, then I sealed them and placed them in the refrigerator. I am not sure if this is the proper way to do it so if you know better than use your method.

Thursday, December 14, 2017

This post contains affiliate links.Good morning! Today I am so excited because my beautiful friend Michele of the fabulous blog Hello Lovely is guest posting today! I think this post fits perfectly with my homemade Christmas gift theme this week. After all do you know anyone that wouldn't love a beautifully and artfully arranged Cheese board? Please welcome the wonderfully talented Michele.

Hello, lovely Pinecones & Acorns friends! I'm Michele of Hello Lovely, and I feel truly blessed and honored to trade places with Elizabeth today on this beautiful blog which has inspired me for years. Whether she is sharing a scrumptious dessert recipe or her love for tartan, I always come away uplifted by Elizabeth and as though I have just visited a friend whose heart has caused my own to glow with warmth. Isn't that what the best bloggers do?

Whether you refer to these as cheese boards, cheese platters, charcuterie boards, or graze boards, it's all just delicious-speak to me! I mean, what is easier than assembling your favorite cheeses, nibbles, and nuts and serving them casually with wine, cocktails, or alcohol-free punch? Guests love these!

Easy Holiday Appetizer Ideas

I assembled the cheese boards you see here for my son's 26th birthday dinner, and you'll find a shopping list at the end of the post. The boards are easy to find online, and here's a lovely one made of olive wood:

How to Assemble a Beautiful Cheese Board

1. PLATTER MATTERS. Select a beautiful board or three.
Shop for new wood or marble boards or trays with a smooth surface.
2. CHOOSE THE CHEESE. Decide on a few different varieties of cheese, charcuterie, fruits, nuts, crackers, etc.
In terms of cheese, there are honestly no rules you must abide by beyond simply choosing what you love. If a stinky cheese gives you a headache, do not consider it! I love fruit-studded cheeses, and it doesn’t hurt that they add a great variety of color. As for charcuterie, I love the ease of pre-sliced coppa, proscuitto, and salami.
3. SLICE THE LOVELY. Slice some of the strawberries, pears, charcuterie, and cheese.
If there’s any secret at all, it’s this: leave some of the fruit and cheese whole, and also slice some of it. A few strawberry, fig and pear slices will add interest and beauty to the board. Slice the charcuterie thinly (if it didn’t pre-sliced) and dice some of the cheese into bite-size chunks. Simply style apples and pears on the table around the board for color and added beauty. Prepare the grapes: with kitchen shears, cut the stems for small individual bunches.
4. JOYFULLY ASSEMBLE! Artfully arrange ingredients on the board.
Begin with the largest items (cheese, meats, crackers) and then fill in, paying attention to what pleases your eye as far as color. Have fun with it!
Serving wine with this delish? I like to leave choosing wines to Martha Stewart Wine Co…

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Good morning how is your week? I hope that you liked the the first two days of easy homemade Christmas gifts, if you missed them be sure to check out the Peanut Brittle and the scrumptious Union Square Cafe Bar Nuts.

Today I am sharing two sauces that can be used over ice cream, cakes, drinks or to eat by the spoonful.

In the top of a double boiler melt the chocolate and the butter together. When the mixture is completely melted remove from the heat and add the cocoa powder.

In a medium saucepan combine the cream, corn syrup, sugar, salt and bring to a boil. Be careful not to let this burn, it comes to a boil quickly. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and the chocolate mixture. Scrape into a bowl and press a piece of plastic wrap over the surface. Let cool for 20 minutes. You can store this is a glass jar for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 300. Place peacan on a baking sheet and toast for 10-12 minutes. Transfer the pecans to a cutting board and chop. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan place the sugar, corn syrup and 3 tablespoons of bourbon. You do not need to stir.

Have the whipping cream near the stove so it is ready for use.

Over medium to medium -high heat bring the mixture to a boil, you can swirl it a little. The mixture will turn from light colored to light brown to amber. From amber to burnt comes really fast so watch the sugar mixture. Once mixture is amber color pour the cream into the center of the pan, the mixture will bubble. Once the bubbles calm a bit stir vigorously with a wooden spoon, then add the nuts and the salt, mix. Let it cool for 10 minutes then add the bourbon and mix again. Once cooled pour into a glass container. You can store for up to 2 weeks in the the refrigerator.

As always, I hope that you try these recipes. If you do let me know, I think you will really enjoy them.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Good morning and welcome to day 2 of Easy Homemade Christmas gifts. Today I am going to share the easiest peanut brittle recipe with you. If you do not like peanuts, than use whatever nuts you like, almonds, pistachios, etc.

This recipe could not be easier, you basically place three ingredients into the pan and let it do its thing, occasionally you swirl the pan until the mixture looks caramel brown. I should warn you that the difference between caramel brown and burnt is about 20 seconds, so you do have to watch the mixture or you will have a burnt mess.

Peanut Brittle

Recipe from Nigella Lawson

Ingredients

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1 cup peanuts( or nuts of your choice)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon soft butter

11/4 teaspoon baking soda

Line a baking sheet with foil, or parchment and butter it. Place it near the stove so that it is handy when you need to pour the hot mixture.

Put the sugar, water, and corn syrup into a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil gently, then turn the heat up and let it boil for 8-10 minutes, swirl the pan, do not stir, a couple of times until the syrup has turned a golden brown. Be careful not to burn it.

Take the pan off of the heat and with a wooden spoon, stir in the nuts, then vanilla, butter and baking soda. The mixture will bubble up so be careful, but be sure to mix well.

Pour the mixture onto the waiting pan and spread it out a little.

Let cool and then break into pieces. You can store the candy in an airtight container or box, or bag to give as presents.

Do you have a favorite nut brittle recipe? Is it similar to this or even easier? I would love to hear about it or any other food gifts that you make and give.

In case you missed Day 1, Union Street Cafe Bar Nuts, you can find the recipe HERE.

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